You can't even get to that page without pasting in the url. They've taken the beta application button off of the main sight. For all we know it could be a typo and late registration closes on that date.

The typo could also be on the number. Maybe it means August 7, 2013.

That would make it BEFORE the live webcast with Yoshi on the 8th... very unlikely.

But you get a W for Wishful thinking!

But it would be funny:

"And, oh yeah, Phase 4 started yesterday."

And the data centers all burst into flames simutaneously 10 seconds later.

You can't even get to that page without pasting in the url. They've taken the beta application button off of the main sight. For all we know it could be a typo and late registration closes on that date.

The typo could also be on the number. Maybe it means August 7, 2013.

That would make it BEFORE the live webcast with Yoshi on the 8th... very unlikely.

Well, not really unlikely. After all, it says "registration." Perhaps it registration starts the 7th but the Beta P4 some days after.

You can't even get to that page without pasting in the url. They've taken the beta application button off of the main sight. For all we know it could be a typo and late registration closes on that date.

The typo could also be on the number. Maybe it means August 7, 2013.

That would make it BEFORE the live webcast with Yoshi on the 8th... very unlikely.

Well, not really unlikely. After all, it says "registration." Perhaps it registration starts the 7th but the Beta P4 some days after.

That was what I intended to imply. I just figured I would point out a more likely typo than the one that was given in the post I quoted.

If Open Beta only lasts a few days, what would SE be hoping to achieve through Phase 4? Since non-Legacy characters all have to start from scratch, it's not likely that players will be able to test everything that was changed/fixed between Phase 3 and Phase 4. Would it be a better stress test than Phase 3, since an Open Beta is likely to have more participants?

____________________________

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FFXI veteran (Lyonheart and Lakiskline of Lakshmi) 1/467 on signed HQ Weskit!!!

If Open Beta only lasts a few days, what would SE be hoping to achieve through Phase 4? Since non-Legacy characters all have to start from scratch, it's not likely that players will be able to test everything that was changed/fixed between Phase 3 and Phase 4. Would it be a better stress test than Phase 3, since an Open Beta is likely to have more participants?

That's what they have stated is the primary goal of Phase 4, a Stress test with more participants than P3.

They are going to make absolutely sure that 1.0 characters survive the transition as well, as they had some issues in P3.

Beta Road Map wrote:

Phase 4 is scheduled to be an open beta. - The PlayStation®3 version will be available. - Characters created during this phase will be carried over to the official release. * Circumstance may necessitate the deletion of character data. - More than 20 Worlds will be available. - All character customization options will be available. - Version 1.0 characters can be used. - The Duty Finder (player matching feature) will be implemented. → Will be in Phase 3 - The Level Sync feature will be implemented. → Will be in Phase 3 - Stress testing will be conducted on the housing system.- Testing will be conducted on the PvP Coliseum.- Free company points - Version 1.0 service account holders will be able to download the official FFXIV: ARRclient free of charge. * Those wishing to play on PlayStation ® 3 must purchase a copy of the game for that system.

If Open Beta only lasts a few days, what would SE be hoping to achieve through Phase 4? Since non-Legacy characters all have to start from scratch, it's not likely that players will be able to test everything that was changed/fixed between Phase 3 and Phase 4. Would it be a better stress test than Phase 3, since an Open Beta is likely to have more participants?

At this point that's my guess...

P4 is nothing more then an extended early access and stress test... I think we saw in P3 that the game is very polished already and really doesn't need a ton of testing with the possible exception of end-game.

How or why would they start it before allowing people to register? SE is all about fairness with ARR, that wouldn't exactly be fair.

Phase 4 registration started weeks ago. This is for late registration.

I'm inclined to believe this. When I checked the beta tester page yesterday it had the "registration site closed, will reopen later" message. Makes sense that they would let things run for a bit before opening the floodgates.

If Open Beta only lasts a few days, what would SE be hoping to achieve through Phase 4? Since non-Legacy characters all have to start from scratch, it's not likely that players will be able to test everything that was changed/fixed between Phase 3 and Phase 4. Would it be a better stress test than Phase 3, since an Open Beta is likely to have more participants?

My guess is they'll be testing if they have enough capacity for launch day and use the Early Start time, which should act as an "eye of the storm," to prepare. There isn't time for much else. It's either going to work or it's getting patched later.

If Open Beta only lasts a few days, what would SE be hoping to achieve through Phase 4? Since non-Legacy characters all have to start from scratch, it's not likely that players will be able to test everything that was changed/fixed between Phase 3 and Phase 4. Would it be a better stress test than Phase 3, since an Open Beta is likely to have more participants?

At this point that's my guess...

P4 is nothing more then an extended early access and stress test... I think we saw in P3 that the game is very polished already and really doesn't need a ton of testing with the possible exception of end-game.

The Player Housing and PvP Coliseum features have not been tested by the public as of yet. According to the Beta Road Map, they will be part of Phase 4.

This is the "official" NA Beta URL. It says nothing of August 17th. Also notice the other link lacks a home button or the polish of the "official" link.

Edited, Jul 31st 2013 5:52pm by ScrapTower

I agree the OP link seems to look Photoshopped compairing the 2 pages its more than obvious.

The link is to Square-Enix's own site; it's not a picture.

Yes that's true but if you compare the two, the controversial link looks unfinished, and it's from square-enix.com. The "official" one that they emailed everyone is from ffxiv.com. Also if you look at the source, there is a large block of java script missing.

Jeez someone is getting paid for this long running ARR beta game ad.I'm not getting hyped up like 1.0 had me. I admit i got hooked when they sent my beta invites to an old secondary email address,but then send the notice that i signed up to the recent email.I like to think there is a huge corporation that think "you'll play in 2 weeks" keep people hook on and talking about the game. I'm upgrading my OS HDD videocard before launch, now i have more time work on that. Hackers don't SE have a twitter account to clear it up?

This is the "official" NA Beta URL. It says nothing of August 17th. Also notice the other link lacks a home button or the polish of the "official" link.

Edited, Jul 31st 2013 5:52pm by ScrapTower

I agree the OP link seems to look Photoshopped compairing the 2 pages its more than obvious.

The link is to Square-Enix's own site; it's not a picture.

Yes that's true but if you compare the two, the controversial link looks unfinished, and it's from square-enix.com. The "official" one that they emailed everyone is from ffxiv.com. Also if you look at the source, there is a large block of java script missing.

Edited, Jul 31st 2013 6:13pm by ScrapTower

It would be a pretty lame hacker that would go to the trouble of breaking into SE's website just to leave a plausible date as to when beta registration would resume.

This is the "official" NA Beta URL. It says nothing of August 17th. Also notice the other link lacks a home button or the polish of the "official" link.

Edited, Jul 31st 2013 5:52pm by ScrapTower

I agree the OP link seems to look Photoshopped compairing the 2 pages its more than obvious.

The link is to Square-Enix's own site; it's not a picture.

Yes that's true but if you compare the two, the controversial link looks unfinished, and it's from square-enix.com. The "official" one that they emailed everyone is from ffxiv.com. Also if you look at the source, there is a large block of java script missing.

Edited, Jul 31st 2013 6:13pm by ScrapTower

It would be a pretty lame hacker that would go to the trouble of breaking into SE's website just to leave a plausible date as to when beta registration would resume.

I'm not saying it was a hacker however it most certainly could be an unfinished/forgotten page, and the OP of the link is basically MIA with no explaination whatsoever.

So what was the point of registering a code before the end of July? if it starts after august 17th. Doesn't make sense at all.

I agree, it doesn't add up. The OP link might very well be legit, but I think it's quite old and unfinished and not actually going to happen.

This isn't a biased opinion because I want the beta to happen sooner either. The game is released in less than a month and almost all of us have early access and beta codes registered so we'll all be playing a lot sooner than that.

I was under the solid impression that it would be on the 8th. I'm not sure why, it was just already in my mind. Weird. This kinda blows because I just so happened to schedule a week off from that day in no connection with beta, just for the hell of it. It would have been nice.